TheCable

Jesse Otegbayo, chief medical director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo state, has tested positive for coronavirus.

In a statement on Sunday, Otegbayo said he took the test on Friday after one of the hospital’s board members tested positive for the disease.

The CMD said samples of those on the board were taken for the test and his own result came out positive.

He said he has gone into self-isolation, and asked those who had contact with him to take the test.

He also asked the public to follow guidelines provided by the authorities to avoid contracting the disease.

“On Monday 23rd March, we commenced a 12man quarterly board meeting which was meant to last 5 days in the hospital, we observed social distancing and other precautionary measures for covid-19 as much as possible,” the statement read.

“However, on Wednesday morning, one of us presented with what appeared to be symptoms of covid-19, his samples were immediately taken for test and the meeting called off.

“His results returned positive on Friday morning and every participant (including me) immediately went into self isolation while our samples were also taken for test.

“Unfortunately, my result returned positive on Saturday afternoon and I remain in isolation as I am not symptomatic. All staff who have been in contact with me and other participants during this period have been advised to immediately proceed on self-isolation pending the time they get tested.

“Covid-19 is spreading faster than we think and I enjoin everyone to take precautions. If one person has it, then a gathering of two becomes dangerous. Stay at home, avoid unnecessary outing and stay safe.”

Also, Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa and Obafunke Denloye, provost and deputy provost of the hospital’s college of medicine, have also tested positive for the disease.

In a statement, Olapade-Olaopa said he and the deputy provost tested positive for coronavirus after taking the test on Friday.

“I wish to inform you that the Deputy Provost and I tested positive for the COVID 19 following tests done on Friday,” he said.

“Although we are both asymptomatic, we have gone into self-isolation for 14 days whilst our contacts are being observed closely to determine if they should also be tested.”

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the country has recorded 97 coronavirus cases so far.